TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR DEVELOPMENT OF FAIRTRADE AFRICA YOUTH STRATEGY

Background

Fairtrade Africa (FTA) is a member-based organization, representing 633 Fairtrade certified producer organizations, comprising of 1.18 million farmers and workers across 28 countries in Africa. We operate four regional networks: Eastern and Central Africa Network (FTA-ECAN) based in Nairobi, Kenya; West Africa Network (FTA-WAN) based in Accra, Ghana; Southern Africa Network (FTA-SAN) based in Cape Town, South Africa, and the Middle East and North Africa region (FTA-MENA). The Fairtrade Africa secretariat is in Nairobi, Kenya.

Fairtrade is an alternative approach to conventional trade based on a partnership between producers and traders, businesses and consumers. Fairtrade’s vision is “A world in which producers can enjoy secure and sustainable livelihoods, fulfill their potential and decide on their future.”

In 2021, Fairtrade Africa entered a new strategic period for 2021-2025. This new strategy has four key pillars: product and market development, policy and advocacy, sustainable farming systems and transformed and strengthened producer organizations. It is aimed at enhancing the achievement of Fairtrade’s vision. In order to achieve this strategy, meaningful youth engagement across the different strategic pillars is critical.

Research findings indicate that the average age of farmers across the agriculture value chain in Africa and Middle East is 54 years.This has been attributed to many farmers not willing to give opportunities to the young generation to participate in agricultural production process. On the other hand, some of the youths have a percieved inclination that agriculture does not bring quick returns, it is time consuming, they have financial constraints and do not have access to resources such as land which inhibit their participation in the agriculture value chains.

Fairtrade therefore seeks to address this gap by creating an enabling environment for engagement of young persons along the agriculture value chains and etrenching their participation in the producer organizations production, processing and market phasing activities.

Fairtrade Standards are designed to ensure inclusivity which encompasses empowering youth to access the benefits of Fairtrade. Fairtrade Africa (FTA) has been working beyond the standards to increase youth engagement in Fairtrade producer organizations and across the agriculture value chain. In the period between 2016 and 2020, FTA has implemented interventions such as;

· Registration, development and capacity building of youth coffee groups in Ethiopia under the Dignity 4 All programme funded by Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Finland and commercial partner Gustav Paulig.

· Empowerment of youth in Uganda through the Growing enterprises in Africa now where youth were involved in the value chain through making bricks and renewable energy cook stoves using coffee husks.

· Climate change initiatives where youth have been empowered with capacity building, resources to develop renewable energy appliances and adopt climate smart approaches in agriculture.

· The Youth inclusive monitoring and remediation programme in Ghana and Cote D’Ivoire which empowers youth to be at the forefront of identifying child labour risks in the cocoa value chain and remediation approaches to address these risks.

· Regional and continental exchanges for youth producers to build their capacity and knowledge on opportunities and emerging trends along the agriculture value chain in Africa.

Further within Fairtrade Africa, 40% of the staff are youth. We intend to institute structures internally that can enhance youth engagement within.

We are seeing improvement, but more needs to be done to bring about meaningful youth engagement. In line with this, Fairtrade Africa is seeking the services of a consultant/consultancy firm to develop a youth strategy which can elevate youth engagement within the agriculture value chain and in Fairtrade Africa.

Objective

The general objective of this assignment is for the consulting firm or individual(s) to design and develop a robust youth strategy to enhance youth engagement within the producer organizations and in Fairtrade Africa.

Scope and focus of the assignment

It is expected that the youth strategy will encompass, including but not limited to, principles, objectives, strategic interventions, result areas, tools and approaches for youth engagement, monitoring, learning and evaluation plan and risk and mitigation strategies for delivering the strategy.

Specific Activities

a) Identify, review literature (e.g Fairtrade Africa strategy, continental youth study report, existing structures for youth engagement within Fairtrade Africa and secondary data sources on youth engagement within the producer organizations and in Fairtrade Africa) and leverage on these sources where relevant.

b) Conduct an assessment and consultations with FTA resource persons and youth producers to fill in gaps identified after reviewing the existing literature.

c) Design and develop a robust inclusive youth strategy that will enhance youth engagement in producer organizations and Fairtrade Africa.

d) Conduct an internal review and validation workshop with FTA resource persons and selected youth producers.

Expected Deliverables

The consulting firm or individual(s) is expected to critically analyse the context of FTA, in the countries where we are located. Specifically, the consultancy will be required to deliver the following:

a) Develop an inception report that details an appropriate and robust methodology that will be implemented to complete the assignment with a detailed work plan;

b) Develop a draft strategy plan.

c) Draft strategy review and validation sessions with FTA resource persons and selected youth producers.

d) Presentation of the draft strategy to the FTA leadership team for review, feedback and approval.

e) A consultancy report of the assignment that summarises all activities conducted and which defines all data obtained and references used in the assignment.

f) Develop a final youth strategy.**

Consultant’s Profile

This assignment requires an expert with experience in youth programming and developing youth engagement strategies.

Qualifications and Skills

§ Bachelor’s degree in social sciences, international development, law or any related field.

§ Minimum of 3 years relevant work experience in youth programming, monitoring evaluation and learning and development of youth strategies.

§ Strong writing and communication skills.

§ Demonstrated experience in programmes related to sectors such as agriculture, trade, climate change, youth empowerment, decent youth employment and entrepreneurship.

§ Knowledge of youth related best practices and trends in the agriculture sector.

§ The expert must have oral and written fluency in English. French is an added advantage.

§ Experience working with international development organizations is desirable.

§ Proven ability to work under pressure with tight deadlines, and to deliver promptly within cost and quality standards.

§ Knowlegde and interest in the Fairtrade system.

§ Excellent interpersonal skills with ability to interact and engage with individuals from diverse backgrounds and contexts.

§ Computer literacy (minimum MS Word, Excel, Powerpoint).

Starting Period

The expected starting time is 25^th October 2021 for 90 working days. Any extension of the period has to be agreed upon, without adding extra cost unless otherwise discussed and agreed upon.